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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 6, 17. Of the Jews Converted by King Chilperic
In this year King Chilperic ordered the baptism of a number of Jews; he himself received many of them from the sacred font. But some of these people were laved in body only and not in their hearts; they lied to God, returning to their infidel state, and while they seemed to honour the Lord’s Day, still observed their Sabbath. Priscus,1 however, could by no argument whatsoever be induced to receive the truth, whereupon the king, in his wrath, ordered him to be imprisoned, determined that though he would not believe of his own free will, he should be forced in despite of it both to hearken and to believe. Priscus, first making certain presents, besought a respite until his son’s marriage to a Jewess of Marseilles was over, deceitfully promising afterwards to do the king’s will. But in the meantime a dispute arose between him and Phatyr, one of the converted Jews who had become godsons of the king; and on the Sabbath, when Priscus, bound with a kerchief, and carrying naught made of iron, was proceeding to a place apart, to fulfil the laws of Moses, Phatyr came upon him and slew him with the sword, with all those in his company. After they were slain, this man took sanctuary, together with his servants, in the church of the holy Julian, which was in a street hard by. While they remained there, the men heard that the king intended to spare their lord, but that they themselves were to be dragged from the church and put to death. Thereat one of them drew his sword, slew his own companions (his master had already taken flight), and afterwards issued from the church, sword in hand. But the people rushed upon him and did him cruelly to death. Phatyr received permission to return to the kingdom of Guntram, whence he had come; but a few days afterwards he was slain by the kinsmen of Priscus.
Notes
- See above, ch. 5.